❓ This parliamentary question scrutinises the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) regarding the relocation and operations of its Animal Pathology and Entomology departments following the condemnation of their Jarrah Road premises. It also probes into hazardous materials storage, seed testing practices, and potential delays in agricultural processes.
AnsweredQoN 2296Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and I ask:(a) What premises does the Animal Pathology department currently have in Western Australia:(i) what expenses have been undertaken in procuring premises since the condemnation of their original home at Jarrah Road, South Perth;(b) Does the Animal Pathology department of DPIRD house any hazardous materials relating to its work and responsibilities;(c) Are there any viruses, bacteria or pathogens held by DPIRD in Western Australia:(i) if yes, how are these materials stored; and(ii) what facilities and security classification is given to the storage of these materials;(d) What premises does the entomology department of DPIRD currently have in Western Australia:(i) what expenses have been undertaken in procuring premises since the condemnation of their original home at Jarrah Road, South Perth;(e) Does the entomology department of DPIRD have residence at the Royal Agricultural Society site at Claremont, Western Australia:(i) if yes, is it a full year term of residency or could it be described as temporary within the calendar year; and(ii) if temporary, what are the terms of the arrangement;(f) Does the entomology department have a library of physical insects collected over many years:(i) if yes, how is this library of physical insects being prepared for storage, by whom and at what expense; and(ii) has a safe home for this library of physical insects been found;(g) What expenses have been undertaken by DPIRD in procuring laboratory facilities here in Western Australia since the condemnation of Jarrah Road, South Perth in 2024;(h) Is the current practice of sending WA seed to Adelaide for testing and certification approved by "Primary Industries and Regions South Australia" and "International Seed Testing Association";(i) Does DPIRD contribute any staff or resources to the seeding testing and certification in South Australia:(i) if yes, please outline what resources are provided under the arrangement; and(j) Have there been any delays in the seeding of crops or the exportation of seeds for crops from WA due to time delays within the Seed Testing and Certification Department of DPIRD?
I refer to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and I ask:
(a) What premises does the Animal Pathology department currently have in Western Australia:
(i) what expenses have been undertaken in procuring premises since the condemnation of their original home at Jarrah Road, South Perth;
(b) Does the Animal Pathology department of DPIRD house any hazardous materials relating to its work and responsibilities;
(c) Are there any viruses, bacteria or pathogens held by DPIRD in Western Australia:
(i) if yes, how are these materials stored; and
(ii) what facilities and security classification is given to the storage of these materials;
(d) What premises does the entomology department of DPIRD currently have in Western Australia:
(i) what expenses have been undertaken in procuring premises since the condemnation of their original home at Jarrah Road, South Perth;
(e) Does the entomology department of DPIRD have residence at the Royal Agricultural Society site at Claremont, Western Australia:
(i) if yes, is it a full year term of residency or could it be described as temporary within the calendar year; and
(ii) if temporary, what are the terms of the arrangement;
(f) Does the entomology department have a library of physical insects collected over many years:
(i) if yes, how is this library of physical insects being prepared for storage, by whom and at what expense; and
(ii) has a safe home for this library of physical insects been found;
(g) What expenses have been undertaken by DPIRD in procuring laboratory facilities here in Western Australia since the condemnation of Jarrah Road, South Perth in 2024;
(h) Is the current practice of sending WA seed to Adelaide for testing and certification approved by "Primary Industries and Regions South Australia" and "International Seed Testing Association";
(i) Does DPIRD contribute any staff or resources to the seeding testing and certification in South Australia:
(i) if yes, please outline what resources are provided under the arrangement; and
(j) Have there been any delays in the seeding of crops or the exportation of seeds for crops from WA due to time delays within the Seed Testing and Certification Department of DPIRD?
I refer to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and I ask:
(a) What premises does the Animal Pathology department currently have in Western Australia:
(i) what expenses have been undertaken in procuring premises since the condemnation of their original home at Jarrah Road, South Perth;
(b) Does the Animal Pathology department of DPIRD house any hazardous materials relating to its work and responsibilities;
(c) Are there any viruses, bacteria or pathogens held by DPIRD in Western Australia:
(i) if yes, how are these materials stored; and
(ii) what facilities and security classification is given to the storage of these materials;
(d) What premises does the entomology department of DPIRD currently have in Western Australia:
(i) what expenses have been undertaken in procuring premises since the condemnation of their original home at Jarrah Road, South Perth;
(e) Does the entomology department of DPIRD have residence at the Royal Agricultural Society site at Claremont, Western Australia:
(i) if yes, is it a full year term of residency or could it be described as temporary within the calendar year; and
(ii) if temporary, what are the terms of the arrangement;
(f) Does the entomology department have a library of physical insects collected over many years:
(i) if yes, how is this library of physical insects being prepared for storage, by whom and at what expense; and
(ii) has a safe home for this library of physical insects been found;
(g) What expenses have been undertaken by DPIRD in procuring laboratory facilities here in Western Australia since the condemnation of Jarrah Road, South Perth in 2024;
(h) Is the current practice of sending WA seed to Adelaide for testing and certification approved by "Primary Industries and Regions South Australia" and "International Seed Testing Association";
(i) Does DPIRD contribute any staff or resources to the seeding testing and certification in South Australia:
(i) if yes, please outline what resources are provided under the arrangement; and
(j) Have there been any delays in the seeding of crops or the exportation of seeds for crops from WA due to time delays within the Seed Testing and Certification Department of DPIRD?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
9 days
(a) Animal pathology is managed within the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) Diagnostic and Laboratory Service (DDLS) and located at sites at Baron-Hay Court, Kensington; Brodie Hall Drive, Bentley; and Cedric Street, Stirling.
(i) It is not clear what premises that question relates to.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
(i) Biological materials are stored in accordance with statutory requirements and industry best practice.
(ii) An Approved Arrangement containment level PC2 facility is located at Baron-Hay Court, Kensington for submitted material. Security sensitive biological agents are stored in accordance with Australian Government requirements.
(d) DPIRD’s diagnostic entomology services are located at a facility on Brodie Hall Drive, Bentley. DPIRD also provides broader entomology services relating to plant biosecurity, invasive species biosecurity and grains and horticulture research, which are located at the Claremont Show Grounds; Edith Cowan University, Joondalup; and Nash St, East Perth.
(i) It is not clear what premises that question relates to.
(e) Yes, DPIRD is delivering some operations from the site, including a national response to invasive ants.
(i) The current arrangements are within the calendar year.
(ii) DPIRD has commercial leasing arrangements with Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (RASWA).
(f) Yes.
(i) The entomology insect collection is stored in accordance with best practice at Baron-Hay Court Kensington.
(ii) The collection is to be relocated to the new metropolitan facility.
(g) It is not clear what premises that question relates to.
(h) Yes.
(i) Yes. DPIRD officers have travelled to South Australia to assist Seed Service Australia to process WA samples.
(j) DPIRD is not aware of any delays in the seeding of crops or export of seeds for crops due to WA’s Seed Testing and Certification process.
(i) It is not clear what premises that question relates to.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
(i) Biological materials are stored in accordance with statutory requirements and industry best practice.
(ii) An Approved Arrangement containment level PC2 facility is located at Baron-Hay Court, Kensington for submitted material. Security sensitive biological agents are stored in accordance with Australian Government requirements.
(d) DPIRD’s diagnostic entomology services are located at a facility on Brodie Hall Drive, Bentley. DPIRD also provides broader entomology services relating to plant biosecurity, invasive species biosecurity and grains and horticulture research, which are located at the Claremont Show Grounds; Edith Cowan University, Joondalup; and Nash St, East Perth.
(i) It is not clear what premises that question relates to.
(e) Yes, DPIRD is delivering some operations from the site, including a national response to invasive ants.
(i) The current arrangements are within the calendar year.
(ii) DPIRD has commercial leasing arrangements with Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (RASWA).
(f) Yes.
(i) The entomology insect collection is stored in accordance with best practice at Baron-Hay Court Kensington.
(ii) The collection is to be relocated to the new metropolitan facility.
(g) It is not clear what premises that question relates to.
(h) Yes.
(i) Yes. DPIRD officers have travelled to South Australia to assist Seed Service Australia to process WA samples.
(j) DPIRD is not aware of any delays in the seeding of crops or export of seeds for crops due to WA’s Seed Testing and Certification process.
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